Good evening and welcome to the Maple Plane City Council business meeting. It is Monday, September 22nd at 7 p.m. and I'm calling the meeting to order. Please stand if you are able and join us for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you everyone for being here this evening. Um tonight we get to start with something fun. I'd like to invite forward u members from the Orno Rotary to come and do a check presentation. You want to say anything? >> She didn't tell me I had to speak. >> We'd love for you to introduce yourselves and you can say your role in the Rotary and then >> Offel and President Rotary. >> Yeah. >> And I'm Dave Shaughnessy, the treasurer of the Rotary Club. >> We had a party in the park this last summer. your generous assistance. >> Thank you. >> We raised some funds and we'd like to make a donation with some of those funds raised. >> Yeah, it's been a great uh relationship. So, thank you again. Well, on behalf of the city, which the we are proud members of the Orno Rotary, we truly value and appreciate the partnership and I believe um this puts us at over $60,000 donated from Party in the Park um in partnership with the Rotary and just speaks again to how together we're better. And one thing about the Orno Rotary, while it's called the Orno Rotary, it really um represents the entire Orno school district. So there are members from many different communities and business professionals and we're just grateful for those relationships and those connections. And a special thank you to uh Maple Plane resident um John Fay who was one of the three tri chairs last year along with um Rotary Treasurer Shaughnessy and then um myself. It was a lot of fun and then thank you to all the volunteers who make it possible because if we don't have volunteers the event um can't happen. So, we are grateful again for the partnership and thank you for being here tonight. And we will take a fivem minute recess to do a picture. >> Thanks. Thanks. >> I can take it if you say if you want to be in it. You take pride in being >> That's what I always say. I have a face for radio. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. All right, with that we will begin um with item number six on our agenda this evening. Visitors to be heard. We have any forms for visitors? >> Not yet. Actually, we're going to skip back number five because usually five goes before six. So, I'm looking for a motion to adopt this evening's agenda. >> I'll make that motion. Motion by council member Francis. >> Second. >> Second by council member Duca. Any further discussion, questions or additions? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. Same sign. Motion carries 5 to zero. The agenda is adopted. Next item of business is visitors to be heard, but we've already discovered that there are none to be heard this evening. So, we'll move on to our consent agenda. Our consent agenda this evening is before us and includes items from the August 25th city council workshop meeting minutes, the August 25th city council business meeting minutes, the September 8th city council workshop meeting minutes, and planning commission candidate approvals. With that, I'm looking for a motion to approve the consent agenda. >> I approve the consent agenda. Moved by Arvisio, second by Francis. Any further discussion or questions hearing? None. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Post. Same sign. Consent agenda is approved. 5 to zero. Next item business this evening before us is accounts payable. And we will start uh turn that over to administrator Kander. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor, members of the council. Our city checks for this last month uh total $148,20021. AC payments that were made were $11,27746 and the 2024 street reconstruction expenses $4,345. of that um is uh $981 of a refund that we'll be doing to a resident as part of our um reimbursements for late submittals. That was our shoe from last year. >> Okay, thank you for that clarification. Any questions regarding accounts payable, either the city bills, the AC bills, or the 2024 street project bills? also have Julie from ABDO here, right? Hearing none, I am looking for a motion to approve all accounts payable. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Berak. >> Second. >> Second by Duca. Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Post same sign. The eyes have it. Five to zero. Next item of business before us this evening is our staff reports. All of our staff reports from the fire department, West Henipin public safety, our city engineer, public works, and our city planner and administration finance are submitted in writing. Um, any of the staff here have anything they would like to add? Okay, with that, um, any council have questions for any of the staff that we can send with staff to get back to staff? Right. With that, looking for a motion to accept all staff reports as submitted this evening. I so move. >> Move by Arvisio. >> A second. >> Second by Burek. Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. The eyes have it. 5 to zero. No old business to come before us this evening. So, we will begin our new business. First item of new business this evening is the Independence Storm Street Storm Basin. And I am going to turn that over to staff. Thank you. >> Excuse see red to me means off. But um anyway, excuse me. >> Means hot. >> Yes, there you go. That that's a good way for me to remember it. Um so this item is related to the 2024 street reconstruction project. And uh little history on that. When we were putting that design together, uh going through the the development process, there were some permits that were needed for the project and in particular, we needed permits from two wersheds, Miha Creek wershed and the Pioneer Sarah Creek wershed. Did I get that right? >> Too many words in that one. Um the split on that project is actually kind of interesting. Uh the only piece that's in Minhaha Creek wershed district for that project is the east part of Independent Street. So if you draw a line pretty much straight through this building out to Independence, east of that line is Miniha Creek Watershed District. West of that line is the Pioneer Sarah Creek wershed district. Um the only thing we needed from Minhaha Creek wershed district was an erosion control permit because all we were doing is reconstructing that piece of independence with which was in their watershed district. The other watershed district included the majority of the project uh that included uh the west half of uh reconstructing Independent Street and then also Wyman and Bryant streets. And if you recall on Wyant uh we did a little widening there. So we added a little impervious surface to that part of the project and the project itself was big enough that the reconstruction triggered some uh storm water quality and volume um requirements from the watershed. So to address that um the requirement actually called for about 6,000 cubic feet of um retention that we had to do on the project. the area that we had available that the city had control of. We had that little triangle area behind the ball field fence and we were able to get about 3,400 cubic feet of storage in that area that was going to provide two things. It was going to provide some storm water quality and uh some um volume reduction uh by collecting that water and infiltrating it. You could we could have handled it in a couple different ways. One was infiltration, which was the way it was designed, which requires fairly porous soils for that water to go in there. But the intent was that it would soak away. Eventually, that basin would go dry, basically be able to mow it, take care of it, um, and be low maintenance. The other option would be if you don't have porous soils that we would, uh, it would what we would call filtration. So underneath that, we put in a drain tile to uh be able to pull that water out of that basin and and get rid of it. Uh based on the soil information that we had at the time of the design, we believe that that soil was conducive that that was going to infiltrate. So we'd bring that water in there, it would soak away. Uh you'd be able to mow it, maintain it, um fairly low maintenance as it's worked out. Uh clearly those soils aren't acting that way. We're holding water in that area. Right now, we have the tall grasses in there. Uh, it's wet all the time. So, what we've ultimately concluded is we need to to switch that to a filtration system, get some drain tile in there so that we can pull that water out of there and, uh, have it act as it was intended to with the design. So, uh, we've been working on this for quite a while. U, the original thought was that we were going to work with the contractor of the street project, get that work done. Uh when we eventually got a quote for them to do that work, it was quite a bit more than what we had anticipated or what we had estimated that that work should cost. Uh so we worked with Jacob decided uh it was best that we go out get quotes to complete that work which is before you tonight. As we went out and got uh four quotes for the work uh the lobby and sunramp construction for $47,578. From a cost standpoint on the project, um it's important for you to know that these these costs are accounted for in those f final project numbers that we got. So when we approved the project last year, set up the assessment uh and estimated final construction cost and soft cost. Uh right now even with this expense we are still below the construction estimate that we had at that time and and below the estimate for s excuse me for soft cost. So project costs are still within um the budget that we had approved and worked for or worked with last fall. With that I'll stop and catch my breath and I'd be happy to answer any questions that you have. >> Questions for staff. I got one question. >> Where is the ultimate goal for that water to go? Or is it to infiltrate into the ground or are we directing it somewhere new? >> So, no, it will it will now filtrate into the ground, but it will tie into the storm sewer system. So before that that same watershed going to the same place uh different basically that filtration. So uh even with the filtration we don't necessarily get the volume reduction that we originally planned for but still from uh removing phosphorus suspended solids those sorts of things we still get that benefit. Thank you very much sir. Okay, other questions. >> Is this pro is there time to do this project this fall? That is the intent. Yes. Any other questions? Okay, hearing none, then I'm looking for a motion for the approval of the quote from Sun Ram Construction for 47, $758 to be funded from the 2024 street project funds. >> So moved. >> Moved by council member Duca. >> Second. >> Second by council member Bureick. Any further discussion or questions? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> I. both same sign. Motion carries 5 to zero. >> Thank you. >> All right. Um the next item before us this evening is resolution 2025-0922-01 cease participation the SVFR and I'm going to turn that over to administrator Ginger. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Uh before you tonight, as the mayor said, is a resolution that ceases the city's participation in the statewide volunteer firefighter pension plan. Um going with the consolidation with West Suburban, we have to give a 90-day notice to PAR that we are ceasing the plan. So that is why we are bringing it to this evening's meeting. Um we went with PAR January 1st of this year, 2025. Um the actuary act actuarial valuation as of December 31st um shows the plan is 116% funded with a surplus of $243,97 under state statute when we terminate this plan. All active and deferred members uh who are fully vested um that the amount of pension plus the surplus would get uh divvied out between them. Um, we would get a report uh from PAR after this resolution is passed that we can provide to each firefighter to show them the amount that they would be getting. At that time, they have the ability to roll that over to an IRS qualified um retirement plan or cash it out. That's up to them. So, we are recommending um passing this resolution this evening so we can forward that on to PAR and get that information for the fire department members. >> Thank you for that summary. Are there any questions from council regarding that? I know we've been talking about this for a few months now and detail and relief. All right, with that then I am looking for a resolution for 2025-0922 um-01 to cease participation the statewide volunteer firefighter plan. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by council member Francis. >> Second >> second by council member Duca. Any further discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor please say I. I >> post same sign eyes have it five to zero. Next item of business this evening is to discuss resolution 2025-0922-02 authorizing the application for the grant navigator and I will turn that over to administrator Kander. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council. Um so this kind of goes in conjunction with another item that we have for business, the local road improvement grant through the state of Minnesota. Um there is a cost to applying for that grant. Um so this grant through the League of Minnesota Cities uh was put forth with some funds that they had in excess from selling property and they give out uh between five and $10,000 towards uh to a city towards a grant writer. Um and like all grants, we have to have permission from the council before we can apply for those grants. Um, so that's what I'm asking here is for council to approve that uh to appro apply for that grant from the league. >> Any discussion or questions? It's a great opportunity. Um, I am looking for a motion to approve resolution 2025-0922-02 authorizing application to the grant navigator program. Make that motion. >> Motion by brack second. >> Second by Vizio. Any discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppose. Same sign. >> The eyes have it. 5 to zero. Next item of business before us this evening is resolution 2025-09-22-03, the approval of the 2026 preliminary budget and tax levy. And I will turn that over to Julie from >> Thank you, mayor, members of the council. So, like the mayor mentioned, tonight we are looking for um the council to adopt the preliminary budget and preliminary property tax levy. Um after tonight and the um preliminary information is approved, the levy can be reduced but it not cannot be increased before final approval in December. We'll cover a few key items um the tax levies and then an overview of the revenues and expenditures for the general fund. So looking at those key items, um the local government aid or LGA did decrease for 2026. Um it decreased by $11,986. The total revenue for 2026 will be $254,411. The 2026 tax levy is proposed to increase $110,786 or 5.87% 87% from the 2025 levy. Included in the budget is a 3% cost of living adjustment for all employees. We also did account for the new Minnesota paid leave in the appropriate funds and we have an estimated 10% increase in um workers comp and general property insurance. Looking at the tax levies. Um, as I mentioned, that total tax levy is an increase of 5.87% or 110,786. Of that, the general levy, which supports the general fund, which is the main operating fund of the city, is proposed to increase $114,81 or 7.82%. And then we have the debt levies. These levies are required based on the debt that the city has issued. We're required to levy 105% of the next year's principal and interest payments. So those numbers are set in those bond documents. Um, but we do see an overall decrease in those debt levies of $4,15 or.96%. Looking at the calculation of the tax rate, we have um with the proposed levy an increase in the tax rate of about 3.22% to 2% from 2025. There was a slight increase in the net tax capacity which helps to offset a little bit of that um levy increase. On the next slide um this is a graphical representation of um the levy for the last four years including the proposed levy here for 2026. So you can see um how the levies have changed over that period of time. Similarly, we do show the tax rates um in a line graph here. So you can see that in 2022 that tax rate was 62.41%. It did drop in 23 and 24. Um went up again in 25 to 53.48% 48% and then we're proposing that 56.7% for 2026. We also like to show um what potential property tax statements would look like for the city's portion of that property tax statement. Um as a reminder um the city's responsible for just that city portion. Um tax statements also include the county and any other special districts and the school district. Um so a home with a market value of $200,000 or a taxable market value of $171,500 would see an increase of $55 in their property taxes. Um, looking at a home with a market value of 500,000, um, the taximum market value of that home would be $498,500. They would see an increase of $160. Similarly, we pulled um information for commercial businesses valued at 500,000, 1 million, and 1.5 million, and they would see an increase anywhere from $297 to $941. And that is for the year. Looking at the general fund revenues, um revenues are projected to increase $14,487. The majority of that increase is due to the property tax levy. Um as we mentioned, there is a slight decrease in the local government aid and that's seen in that intergovernmental line. So that's 11,000 of that $19,000 decrease and we have a slight increase in licenses and permits. Looking at the general fund expenditures, um again we're showing a balanced budget. So we see an overall increase in the expenditures of $104,487. The areas with the largest changes from the 2025 budget are in the council area where we added about $3,500 for um software and about $5,000 for contracted services. And then in the police department, um that's an increase due to the police contract. In the fire area, we're also seeing an increase and that's due to the contract for fire services as well as um an increase in the repairs and maintenance for the fire station. Um and then in public works, we have an increase in contracted services about of about $11,000 and that's for people services and lawnmowing services. And then we're showing a decrease in parks and that's due to um removing the line for tree care. This next slide is a graphical representation of the amount of the general fund budget that each department is responsible for. Um you'll notice that the police department is 39.4% 4% of that budget. Fire is about 12.4 and financial administration is about 18.5. Those are the largest areas um within the general fund. With that, we'll take any questions that the council may have. Questions for staff? Um as you noted, it has been a journey to get here. uh we started in July and have been able to get it down to from 10.86 to 5.87 and still potential maybe for a little bit more while main attaining all services. So um and as as you already noted fire and police are more than 50% of our budget and that is something that um we as a council and as a city have heard and taken direction and take great pride in providing the best public safety possible and and our budget is a reflection of that. and um we are grateful for those services and for the staff we have that um is able to provide those. >> Council member Duca, >> I think it's also worth noting I've gone through a dozen of these budget meetings. None of them are easy, but but Jacob, to you and this and the staff for putting this together. I think one way to look at this is yeah, we increased $100,000 in expenditures for the year, but of that $104,000, almost all of it, almost all of that increase went to police and fire. So, you did a nice job of keeping the rest of the budget as flat as we could, put our resources where our people wanted it, which was really the police and fire. And those have been challenging, particularly with the the change over to the consolidation. We'll have some very predictable costs over the next couple years. Um, so I thank you for the work that you you and the staff did on this. And just to ease the pain a little bit, I was at the League of Minnesota Cities board retreat this past week and all of the board members got to put up their levy increase. Um the highest one of the 15 cities that were represented there was 15.99 while the lowest one was 1.37, but we're maintaining our services. So all right, any other questions for staff? Okay. Looking for a motion to approve resolution 2025-0922-03, approval of the 2026 preliminary budget and tax levy. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by Berak. >> Second. >> Second by Duca. Any further discussion? >> Hearing none. All in favor, please say I. I. >> Post same sign. You guys have it. Five to zero. The next item before us this evening is resolution 2025-0922-04, the LRIP grant application and county support. And I'm going to turn that over to administrator Kander. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council. I will turn it over to our assistant engineer, Matt Alman. >> Yeah. Thank you, Mayor, members of the council. Um so before you you have the resolution as noted to approve uh moving forward with the grant for the local road improvement program. Um so the state has awarded $47 million in funds for 2026. Uh there's max awards per city I say city but it could be townships too of 1.5 million each. Um non MSA cities so municipal state aid cities are required to have a county sponsor. That's really just to as a funding mechanism between the help between the state and the small cities because MSA cities kind of have that um that funding set up but the county will help with that piece of it. Um so the downtown reconstruction which is on the slate for next year would qualify under the routes of regional significance um in the in our memo there. And so that's what we'll be looking to proceed with. Um, so the qualifying expenses expenses are construction of the roadway, sidewalks, um, storm sewer, and the fire station parking lot are all eligible. So, and we're really just going to focus on the the regional significance route. So, that's going to be Main Street, Maple Avenue, Pioneer Avenue, and the parking lot is all kind of related to that regional significance. Our preliminary estimate is about 1.1 million that the city would be eligible for if awarded. So, that be a good chunk change. Um, see projects can't start until they receive the notice of the war of award and that's going to be roughly the end of March. It could be a little bit later. They can't start construction until the end of March. So, we we should be in good shape there. It just means if we're going to proceed with this, we have a little bit more oversight from the state for review of the plans and and all those things, but I think it's a good um endeavor anyway. And then the projects have to be completed by 2029 in order to to get to all the grant funding. That we should be in good shape there. So the grant application itself is due by the middle of December and we put together um our rough estimate is about $7,000 for our staff to help pull that application together. I think that's it. Anything else you want to add? >> Any questions for staff? >> All right then. I am looking for a motion to approve resolution 2025 0922-04 authorizing staff to apply for the local road improvement program grant and see Kenip and counties support. >> We'll make that motion. >> Motion by Francis. >> Second. >> Second by Duca. Any further discussion or questions? I just want to thank the staff um for bringing this to our attention and bringing it forward. It sounds like there's great potential here. So, thank you for doing that. All right. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Go. Same sign. >> Guys have it. Five to zero. All right. Right. Next item of business come before us this evening is resolution 2025 um-0922-05 declaring the 2010 Chevy as a surplus property. Anything from staff on that state forward. Any questions from anyone on council? Right. Hearing none. Looking for a motion to approve resolution 2025-0922-05 declaring the 2010 Chevy as surplus property. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by council member Avisio. >> I'll second that motion. >> Second by council member Berk. Any discussion or questions? Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos. Same sign. Right. The eyes have it. Five to zero. Next item of business before this evening. It's a night of resolutions. There's another resolution. Resolution 2025-09-22-06, the approval of the site plan and conditional use permit for 5600 Pioneer Creek Drive. Um, planner cultist could not be here with us this evening. So, Administrator Coender will us through this. >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Members of the council, I will not do as good of a job as Mark does. Um but uh I hopefully everybody's had the chance to review the the packet information. The planning commission held a public hearing um earlier this month um to review the applicant um for a site plan and conditional use permit. Um this facility would manufacture um medical uh cannabis as well as recreational cannabis. Correct. Um there were some concerns about uh lighting um which they addressed uh safety um and security which they will address with uh West Henipin public safety uh before the plan is fully approved. Um they'll have a walkth through with the fire department for an inspection. Um and they did address uh there were some questions at the public hearing in regards to odor. Um they have a basically a double filtration system, one which is made of carbon um which filters out so there won't be any uh smells. Um we did put in the conditional use permit uh and how we address that if that were to be the case. Um the applicant seems very excited to be in Maple Plane and very excited about the process and is very knowledgeable. Um so I'll stand for any questions and if the council doesn't mind, I will ask him for any clarifications if we need them. >> Otherwise, we are recommending uh planning and staff recommend approval. >> Thank you for that update. Questions from council? Um, did anyone show up to the planning meeting in favor? Were their concerns addressed? >> Thank you, Madame Mayor. Uh, yes, there were two individuals uh family that showed up um and the smell was their biggest >> um concern. >> What's that? >> Noise. >> Yes. And noise. Okay. >> Thank you. Uh the report was very inclusive. So, I don't have any other questions. Anyone else? Okay. With that then I am looking for a motion to approve resolution um 2025-0922-06 approval of the site plan in COP for 5600 Pioneer Creek pending plan approval from West Henipin public safety. >> So moved. >> Moved by council member Duca. >> Second. >> Second by council member Bureick. Any other discussion or questions? I do have one administrator coander that I've been asked by residents. So I think just in transparency and to get it out there on in the minutes and on the video is why do we have to vote for this? >> Thank you, Madame Mayor, members of the council. The reason that um we have to vote for this is it's a conditional use permit that uh this use is permitted by our zoning. Um this was just recently uh marked as uh an allowable use in our industrial zone. Um whereas our retail zone is mixeduse gateway um cultivation manufacturing is all done industrial. So because it fits those parameters, we have to approve it. >> Thank you for that clarification for those that needed it. Any other questions or comments? Okay, with that we have a motion and a second. So all in favor, please signify by saying I. >> I. >> Oppos? Same sign. The eyes have it. Five to zero. Right. Next item before us this evening is council reports and other business. Who would like to kick us off this evening? >> Member Francis. Uh so for me the the month started off busy with planning commission. We had great discussion about the ZOr farms, great questions, great information. I learned a lot that night and I appreciate you being here and answering all of our questions. Um, after planning commission, there was workshops and EDA. Unfortunately, um, didn't make I don't think I made any rotaries this month dealing with some health issues that require my attention. So, um, that's about it for me for the month. Just been going to lots of doctor's appointments. Thank you for that update, Council Member Berak. >> Um, you know, I had the workshops, but one thing I got to sit in and was the police commission this this month and, you know, going through the budget, I'm not as familiar with Mike as Mike is with the budget. Um this is going to be my second round. Um it is a lot of hard decisions we have to make and it's an interesting look we have to take at it because we have to consider everything and I just want to bring up that you know we plan for the future. where we look at today and the police commission was where I really want to point that out is we have an application to fill the police officer spot but we approved the budget for that to go in place but we still kept in mind if we didn't have that is that still there and I just want to point out the staff what they go through and planning all that it is a game of shuffle and you have to accommodate everything and I want to thank the staff for putting the effort in and coming up with the details and not making us go through 30 meetings. So that's all I got tonight. >> Thank you, Council Member Berak. >> Council member Visio. >> Thank you, Madam Mayor. >> So, uh, my what I'd like to add is as well as learning how to my first time going through a budget, which was very educational. Um I think we did a good job as well but tough decisions made. But then then with the wershed we're looking at u reallocation of grant funding because some of the projects that came in came under budget. So now we have this surplus money and we still need to use it or lose it. So, we're now we're trying to reallocate it or see if we can um get it extended, if you will, for projects that need to be done such as Lake Independence, Lake Rebecca, Lake Ardmore, for algae blooms, uh for treging out the the Pioneer Creek so that we have some more flow and like independent so we're not always at a no wake situation and that you know get the water level down and cementation. levels don't keep increasing. So, those are things we're looking at for wershed. Uh with the at the chamber of commerce, we got to uh learn more about our new chief and all of his u fun nicknames he has as well as all of his fun hobbies. Very very entertaining and educational presentation chief. So, appreciate that. But I have nothing further to add. >> Thank you, council member. Council member Duca. First of all, welcome to our new business. >> Oh, yes. >> Thank you for I know you you had a choice of where to put your business. You chose us and we're thankful for that. Um and look forward to a good partnership with you over the years. Um a lot of behind the-scenes work this this month with the the fire department and the fire relief. Um, I don't think we can underestimate just how difficult this consolidation is. It's a change and you're changing people's the way they're doing work, the way they're doing it, yet they're all they're still committed to providing you the outstanding service that we all expect and have have grown accustomed to. So, uh, to our chiefs, thank you for the work you guys continue to do. I know that isn't easy. Um, I had earlier this afternoon actually had had our it was our council chat time during the month where we get to sit down with residents. We had a number of people stop in and shared stories of of their experiences in the city. We gleaned some good insights from that. You know, no surprise they continue to love our our our city. We're the second safest city in the state of Minnesota. And chief, your your goal is to be number one next year, right? >> Yeah. >> We're the top rated city that reports crime. >> Oh, reports crime. That's >> number one doesn't report. So, we are number one >> if you ask anyone on the police. Um, so they it it's always refreshing though to to have the opportunity to to sit down with residents and I think we just for for transparency we do every one of the council members takes a month and we just have an open forum where people can come in and chat and and talk to us and let us know how things. So that went well today. So >> thank you for that update, Council Member Duca. Um, August was a busy month, but it was also a fun month. We had um lots of social things going on in the city and one of those that is always a highlight is battle of the badges. This is our annual game and I have to say I was a little nervous this year where the trophy was going to go. Um but by the end um it went back to the police station. So congratulation to whips and next year will be a good game again. So looking forward to that. Um throughout the summer I was invited to lunch on the patio at Haven Homes and it's just fun to visit with those residents who just love that building, love the staff. Um some of the first responders always come and our hometown heroes and have lunch with them and it's um great to watch those interactions and just part of what makes our community our community is just those connections and um being together. Also something new this year um the library invited a couple of us to do story time at the library. So, some of you might be asked next year. So, we um this month we were able to have story time with our chiefs and they have never seen the library so full. It was the most popular story hour that they've had and it was really fun um to hear our chiefs read books and watch them interact with the um children and the parents and the community. So, just some fun new traditions that we're starting. I was able to attend fire relief. Rotary has been busy. We've had youth exchange speakers. We've been out in the park. Uh we built uh rebuilt the walkway. We had a snake visit us during that project. Um would have rather not had that happen, but otherwise that all went well. So, never know what's going to happen at Rotary. Um something new that our first responders are doing. Um thank you um to Chief is brought in um a nonprofit organization called Bit of Grace, which was started by a young boy by the name of Owen who is on the spectrum. And um each of our squad cars now will carry a bag with them called Bit of Grace. And then some of our um fire trucks as well. And it just gives them tools and resources to interact um not only with children, but with anyone who could be on the spectrum. There's um Q cards in there. There's sensory toys. There's earmuffs. Just different things that you might need at any time. So uh grateful for that relationship and for the chief setting that up and equipping our staff with those. As you've heard multiple times, we're continuing lots of different meetings for the fire consolidation and fire commission. Uh the Highway 12 safety coalition um met again, continuing to still work and advocate on that road. Um possibly working with some lobbyists to work on um greater funding. So, more to come on that regional council on Mayors. Um this month was interesting. And it was all about AI and really just exploring the boundaries of AI and things um the societal impact, the limitations and ethical considerations and how are you going to implement that because you're going to need to and what does that look like and what does that look like in our city and what does that look like um with our staff and in our county. Uh police commission was primarily focused on budget um and filling the open positions. So looking forward to getting that filled. uh West Henipin Chamber was a great meeting and um Chief D. Rose has been here less than six months and has been very very busy and was wellreceived. So, thank you for speaking at that. Uh fire commission worked hard on the timeline. Northwest Henipin League of Municipalities really just did city updates. We take a two-month break and uh really talked a lot about levies and budgets and um different challenges that we're all facing. Uh huge shout out to McGarer's for their fourth annual charity golf classic which needed to be rescheduled. Um and that just happened last week. It was a beautiful day. Uh the city of Independence had a foresome and the chamber sponsored a hole and the fire department um had a foresome and then all of the profits will go to the our hometown heroes, our fire and police. Um and that will happen next month. So thank you to James at the pub for that and to everyone who sponsored and participated. Um, just some things coming up. Just want to remind everyone and invite everyone to the fire department open house. That will be on October 6 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. All of the events and activities are free. If you want, you can bring money and you don't need to make dinner that night. You can buy food at the food truck. And then also coming up on October 25th will be the West Henipin Chamber Truck and Treat event um down in the parking lot by Forkless from 11 to 1. So, watch for more information about those on our website, newsletter, leaflet, city sign, and all those things. So, it's been a busy month and grateful for everyone and for the team that makes it all happen. Any other business or anything to come before us this evening? Hearing none, looking for a motion to adjurnn. >> I'll make that motion. >> Motion by council member Francis. >> I'll second that motion. >> Second by council member Bureick. All in favor of adjourning, please signify by saying I. I I >> post same sign meeting's adjourned at 7:49.